Box construction



V. G. MOLDT BOX CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheetg-Shet 1 Filed July 26, 1951 INVENTOR. VERNE G.Mo| o-r BY i z I, fi q.m

ATTORNEYZ Oct. 13, 1953 v. G. MOLDT 2,655,283

' Box CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VER N is. G. MOLDT BY ATTOR/Vflii Oct. 13, 1953 v. s. MOLDT 2,655,283

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26 1951 4 Sheets-Sha e: s

'fl ''f L -l.

III// A T TOR/VEKJ.

Oct. 13, 1953 v. e. MOLDT BOX CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 26, 1951 CDC) 41 INVENTOR. VERNE G. MOLDT. BY

401144, Gm? r 4 ATT RNEYJ.

i atented Oct. 13, 1953 BOX CONSTRUCTION Verne G. Moldt, Trenton, N. .L, assignor to St.

Regis Paper Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 26, 1951, Serial No. 238,608.

This invention relates to tote boxes and the 4 Claims. (01. 220-22) like, such, for example, as may be used for temporarily storing or carrying about various materials or products in a factory, or for general shipping purposes.

More specifically, according to the invention, a box or box-like construction is provided which conveniently may be nested with another like box therein at either of two alternative levels. Further, in its preferred form, the arrangement includes a tray or trays so formed, in cooperation with features of the box, that they may be deposited at either of two different levels in the 'box and as desired, either one or two trays may be placed at alternative levels, while another like box is supported and partially nested at a higher level in the box.

In carrying out the invention, two opposite side walls of the box on the inside thereof are formed with supporting protuberances terminating at a level intermediate the bottom and top of the box to there provide supports for another like box when in nested position. Also recessed areas are formed at other points on each of two opposite side walls on the outsides thereof, the wall material at said recessed areas protruding inwardly on the insides of the walls and including portions terminating near the top of the box to provide supports for the other like box to rest upon when in slightly nested position. Preferably each of said protuberances is positioned opposite one of said recessed areas on the opposite wall and, when tions along two opposite sides, such that, when a tray is in one position, it will be free to drop down into the box until it engages the supporting provtuberances, but when such tray is turned endfor-end, the notches are such that it will engage and be supported at a higher level by reason of said recessed areas.

Stated and summarized in another way, substantially identically shaped boxes and pluralities of trays therefor all ofthe same shape are provided, and opposite side walls of each box and opposite edges of each tray are formed with two 2 types of irregularities, one type being such that, when an upper box or a tray is in what may be referred to as the normal position, same will be free to drop down into the lower box to a lower supporting level, but when an upper box or tray is turned end-for-end with respect to the lower box, then the irregularities are such that the upper box or tray will be retained and supported in the lower box at a higher level.

Further and more specific objects and features of the invention will more clearly appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form apart.

of this specification and illustrate by way of example the presently preferred forms of the inven-- tion.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, are side, plan, and end views of a preferred embodiment of the in-- vention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same box and also of one of the trays which may be used therein;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the box with one of the trays supported therein at an intermediate level;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view partially broken away, taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken substantially along line 11 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a side view of two of the boxes superposed in slightly nested relation and partially shown in section; I

Fig. 9 is a side view of the same two boxes, partiallyshown in section, but with the upper box nested at a deeper position in the lower box;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of one of the trays; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view partially broken away. showing parts of an alternative tray construction. r 7

Referring now to Figs. 1-3 in further detail, the particular box 15 here shown is of a shape having a rectangular cross-section, and having its four walls [6, ll, [8 and [9 all positioned to slant outwardly slightly toward the top to facilitate stacking or nesting with other like boxes without 'jamming. Preferably, the box walls and bottom are integrally formed of synthetic resin molded under heat and pressure, for example a thermosetting polyester resin reinforced with fibreglass mat may be used. A sheet of the fibre glass mat may be placed in a mold shaped to correspond'to the shape of the desired box. The resin mixture is then poured in and the heated mold is closed.

'4 aged. And to allow escape of moisture or other fluid, or to allow entrance of air, such channels may be formed at spaced points with apertured depressions as at 34 (Fig. 6) which also constitute supporting feet for the bottom.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 10, the removable trays similarly may be formed with channels having apertured depressions. It will, however, be readily understood that bothv the. bottoms ofthe boxes and of the tray areas may be formed with other configurations adapted to comprise receptacles $9.1. receiving whatever objects or materials are to mediate with bottom and top, to there provide rigid supports all of the same height tor another like box when nested in positiom. lnthefqli 1 5:

shown in Fig. 6, these protuberances constitute an inner wall formation as at 3;. integral with the main or outer wall, the space'between these wall portions containing filler 23 of wood or other material, as desired. 7

Preferably, the same two opposed walls which bear the protuberances are also formed with. pluralities of recessed areas as at 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b and 25c- That is, each of these areas provides. a recess on the outside wall surface of the box. and each such area hasa correspondingly shaped in.- wardly protruding arda. on the inside surface of the. wall. As. best shown. inFig, 9, the twoopposite side edges 26 and 21. of each of these areas slant toward each other slightly so that the. in-

wardly protrud ng Portion of suchan area in a lower box will nest readily but, firmly within the corresponding recessed area. of a hi her box and between the similarlyslanted side edges 25', 27

. of the latter area.

As best shown in Fig. 4, each of the recessed area formations also has shoulders asv at 28,- 29 at. an. elevation intermediate the: top of the box andthe level of the protuberances. Suchshouiders, if desired, may be used to support tra s-with side notches suitably cut to-receive..f11rther upwardly extending portions 301. of therecessed areas. The latter portions preferably terminate as at '31- (Fig. 4) at a level just below theupper rim of the box. to provide; supports for another box as hereinafter more fully. explained.

It will be noted: that each oi the-protuberances ml! iets... ismca ed at ano oppo i e o of the recessed areas, such as at 24a, 25a, etci, on the: pp ite: wall. Thus. wh a l ke ox as shown at 5"i ie; 8 s nlacedupon box 1.5. th uppe ox will: e rigi ly supported y h n tiims .,which engage the. bottom of theupper box at points which are stronglyreiniorced by protuberances as at 20a, 21a, etc. However, when the upper box I5. isturned aroundthmflgh an angle of 180, then it may be nestedinthe boxat an intermediate levelwiththe bottom of the box resting upcnthe-protuberances in box [5, as shownin Fig.9.

It will be understood that various nnmhersof the recessed areas and of the protuberancesmay be provided on either;two;or; all of thei iour Sides of the box asreguired, dependinguponrthe supporting strength required when the boxes areg nested. at either of. the two levels. in use; Inia typicalcase, at least. two of the. protuberances andtwoofthe recessed areas will be desirable on each of .the two opposite-side walls.

Thebottomof theparticular form-of box here be carried thereby. As shown in Fig. 11, the channels may be interrupted at spaced points, either by-v apertured brace-like formations 36 for strengthening the tray (or a box bottom) or closed transvelifie areas as at 31 may be formed in the channels.

' and distinguish the relative positions of the boxes andtrays, the opposite ends of' each box and'of it. will. be understood by those-skilled in the art shown has a-generally corrugated-formation providing a plurality of channels; as at .33 (Figs. 4

and. 7) adaptedto receive for example; strip s, bands. or tubes of extruding. plastic-materialaor shown in Fig. 10, the longitudinal side edges of the trays as at 40 have a plurality of wide ,notches as. at M and narrower notches as at 42.

will be apparent from this figure in connection with Figs. 4, 5 and '7, the wider notches 4i areso positioned and of sufficient width to receive the inwardly protruding areas of the recessed portions. such as at 25a, etc., thereby permitting the tray when in the inormal or appropriate position to drop down to the proper level tobe supported .on protuberances such as at 21a. That is, the narrower notches 42 are not of sufficient width. to permit the tray to pass such protuberances. On the other, hand, when such a tray, is reversed .end-for-end, then the narrower notches 42 will pass the upper recess portions 38, but then will comeintc contact with. and be supported by theshoulders uc as at 2.8, 29'. .A tray supp r in this position is indicated at 4B in Fig. 7; As willbe apparent from. the above description, two of the trays of." identical shape respectively may be supported at the two different elevations as shown in Fig. 7 if desired, and another boxniay he superposed on the boxof Fig. '7 and partially nested within. the top thereof as shown in Fig, 8. Ehus a variety of nesting. or tray arrangements are made possible permitting. the equipment to he usedwi heither a more or less compact relationship of the parts as may be desired under diflierent conditions of use. Several of the boxes may, vof course, be stacked in superposed position either slightly nested. and with or without. trays .or. deeplynested.

The side walls may be formed either with or withoutv perforations at 45 to permit escape of moisture or gases or to permitflentrance of air depending on the nature of the product for which thebox is used; Hand holds as at 46' (Fig. 3)

may be formed. in each end wailcf the box and the trays may have cutout areas 41 (Fig. 10;) to provide. clearance for the workmenis fingers at thev region of the handgholds.

In. order that workmen may .qu ly'id ntii each tray may be paintedwith contrasting colors.

While: the invention has been described. in detail with respectto particular preferredexamples,

that various changes and further modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of: the

invention as defined by the appended claims.

Whatis claimed as new and desired to beseeuredby Letters. Patent is:

l. .Atote box or. the like formed withside walls which incline outwardly from the. lower edges the-like tube supported,- carried about storedior. 3 toward. the; top, de s ther of th re y.

the side walls flare outwardly to facilitate nesting of such boxes, at least two protuberances being formed at spaced points on each of two onposite side walls on the insides thereof, such protuberances terminating at a level intermediate the bottom and top of the box to provide supports for another like box in nested position, at least two recessed areas being formed also at spaced points on each of said two opposite side walls on the outside of each thereof, the wall material at said recessed areas protruding inwardly on the inside of each such wall and including portions terminating near the top on the inside of such walls to provide supports for another like box to rest upon, each one of said protuberances being opposite one of said recessed areas on the opposite wall, whereby another like box may be either supported in nested position as aforesaid with the corresponding recessed areas in nested relation, or when such other box is turned horizontally through an angle of 180 it may rest as aforesaid at a higher level.

2. A tote box or the like having side Walls and an open top area bounded by the upper edges of such walls, at least two inwardly directed protuberances being formed at spaced locations on each of two substantially opposite side walls of the box, such protuberances each having a supporting surface intermediate the bottom and top of the box to provide supports for another box in nested position therein, at least two recessed regions being formed also at spaced locations on each of two substantially opposite side walls on the outside of each thereof, the wall material at each of said recessed regions protruding inwardly of the box, such inwardly protruding material of such regions each having a supporting surface at a higher level than that of said first-mentioned supporting surfaces, whereby another box may be supported in nested position as aforesaid with corresponding recessed regions in nested relation, or when such other box is turned horizontally through a preselected angle it may rest at such higher level, such other box having analogous protuberances and recessed regions positioned analogously therein, both boxes having upwardly flaring side walls.

3. A tote box or the like having side walls, at least two protuberances being formed at spaced locations on each of two opposite side wall on the inside of each thereof, such protuberances terminating at a level intermediate the bottom and top of the box to provide supports for a tray in nested position therein, at least two recessed portions being formed at different spaced locations on each of said two opposite side walls on the outside of each thereof, the wall material at said recessed portions protruding inwardly on the inside of each of such walls and including portions terminating at a higher level near the top on said inside walls to provide supports for such tray to rest upon, each one of said protuberances being directly opposite one of said recessed areas on the opposite wall, such tray having formed in its margin irregularities for accommodating said inwardly protruding recessed portions when same is resting upon said first-mentioned supports, said tray when turned end-for-end having its margin formed for engaging and resting upon said higher level supports.

4. A tote box or the like formed with flaring side Walls, the mouth opening being larger in area than the base, at least two protuberances being formed at spaced points on each of two opposite side walls on the inside of each thereof, such protuberances terminating at a first level intermediate the bottom and top of the box to provide supports for another like box in nested position, at least two recessed areas being formed also at spaced points on each of said two opposite side walls on the outside of each thereof, the wall material at said recessed areas protruding inwardly on the inside of each of the walls and including portions terminating at a second level near the top of the boxon said inside walls to provide supports for another like box to rest upon, each one of said protuberances being opposite one of said recessed areas on the opposite wall, whereby another like box may be supported at said first level either in nested position as aforesaid with the corresponding recessed areas in nested relation, or when such other box is turned horizontally through an angle of it may rest as aforesaid at said second level.

' VERNE G. MOLDT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,064,518 Brogden Dec. 15, 1936 2,252,964 Faulkner Aug. 19, 1941 2,454,455 Irwin Nov. 23, 1948 2,459,657 Klein Jan. 18, 1949 

